Battery case



Nov. 1,1927. 1,647,141

A W. MEYER BATTERY CASE VFiled Deo. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @M www W Patented Nov.Y 1, 1927.

Lamai eater ferrite.

WILLIAMMEYER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BATTERY CASE.'

' Application led December 10, 1926. Serial No. 153,897.

This invention relates to an improved battery case and more particularly to a novel arrangement and `mounting of the cells therein. I

The present invention has particular utility in connection with the faradic and galvanic circuits for electrotherapeutic uses, but the invention may of course be employed wherever found desirable and `is therefore not limited to any particular use or purpose.

At present in removing and inserting the cells in devices of this sort, binding post screws must be loosened and the connecting wires are frequently confused. Where there are a number of cells the difficulties and tediousness of the task areincreased and I I find that the average user and even the ordinary electrician, are` not usually capable of correctly replacing the cells. It has thereforebecome practically necessary to send devices of this sort back to the factory to have them equipped with new cells. This involves great expense to the user and when the batteries come back Afrom thefactory I find that they often have a number ofthe binding posts and flexible connecting wires v corroded, frequently to such an extent that they have had to be replaced.

The object of my invention is to provide a` device in which the cells may be conveniently replaced by the ordinary user without disturbing the wiring or circuit connections, and to eliminate the necessity of unscrewing binding post screws and the like, in removing and replacing the cells, particularly the cells for use for galvanism in devices of this sort.

improved and simplified construction ofthe deviceand a generally improved and sim? f plied mounting and arrangement of `the cells, and a construction mounting andarrangement that may-be economically preduced `and conveniently embodied.

According to my invention I use cells of A. the quick detachable type, such as now commonly used in flash light batteries. Iprolvide a pair of'contacts and the` battery is mounted between 'and supported by these contacts with its terminals in quick detach-A able contact therewith. To replace a cell it is simply slipped from position between the contacts and another cell may be slipped into place therebetween by the user withoutV 4difiiculty and without loosening binding post Another object is to provide a generally screws or disturbing the wiring or connections.` The dual function imparted to the contact by supporting the cells thereby eliminates parts and decreases the cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a vhorizontal section taken on the line' 1 1 of Fig. 2, through a battery case embodying the invention.

Fig.. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the` line 22 of Fig. l. Y

F ig. 3 is the horizontal section taken on the line -Bvof Fig. 2 and v Fig. 4 is the transverse vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings the case designated generally at 5 comprises a box or lower part 6having 'an open top closed by a cover 7. The cover 7 may be suitably hinged at 8, along its longitudinal rear edge `to the-,upper edge of the rear wall of the lower part 6, and a latch 9 may be provided for latching the cover 7 in closed position upon the lower part 6.

The top wallof the cover 7 may be provided with a suitable carrying handle 10 whichmay comprise a liexible strap suitably attached adjacent itsopposite end to the top of the cover 7, and by means of fasteners, 12. The walls of the cover 7 and the lower case partv 6 may be provided with a. covering 14. Thisl covering may simulate Vleatherffor example, or it may be otherwise to give the case any desired finished .appearance. f

Mounted horizontally within the case part 6., and adl1acent the open top thereof with one end abutting one end wall of the case 'part 6. and the other end spaced from the lbetween the end pieces 16, 16 is a Vertical longitudinal partition 18 which may Valso be of wood. The panel 15 overlies the upper Vedgesogf the partition 18 and end pieces 16 and is supported within the case thereby, and is preferably attached thereto as at 2O to constitute a unitary supporting frame and panel mounted in the lower part 6 of the case and spaced from oneend to provide:

a space 25. The ends of the partition 18 may be mortised into the end piecesi16l as;

at e1, 21. Y

The unitary supporting frame and panel. may be secured within theV case by screw or other fastening devices passing through the longitudinal walls of the bottom of part 6 and into the end pieces 16.

rlhe particular device shown is for supplying faradie and galvanic current for elecexample, may be employed. This cell 42 is laid longitudinally alongone side rof the partition 18 and in horizontal position in the case. The cell 42 is provided with thev usual terminals 43 and 44 and the circuit connections and manner of controlling. the cii'cuits and operating the device are the Yordinary circuit connections control and operation employed in devices of this sort as well understood in the art or these may be varied as desired and will therefore not be described in detail here. They form no part of the present invention.

For galvanism I employ a plurality of relatively small cells of the quick detachable type' such as used in flash light batteries andthe like. I/Vhile in the particular embodiment showmsix of these cells 50 are used in series for galvanism, it is to be understood that the particular number and purpose of these cells may vary, as desired. Merely as further illustrative of the particular embodiment of the invention shown, these cells 50 may be of the usual 11/2 volt 2/3 ampere type. The bottom 52 of the zinc case of each cell 50 forms one terminal of each cell 50 and the central upstanding post 531formsthe other terminal contact of each cel Forl supporting and electrically connecting the cells 5() into the desired circuit, I einploy apair of contact arms and 56 for each cell 50. The upper contact 55 of each pair of these contacts overlies the loweI` contact 56 vertically and the inner ends of the upper and lower contacts are turned at right angles at 58l and fastened bymeans of screws 60 to the partition 18, which partition thereby supports theupper and lower contact arms 55 andY 56 forthe several cells.

With the contacts 55 and 56 so mounted theV outstandingcell supporting tlie contact making arms thereof, extend generally horizontally from and at substantially right angles to the supporting partition 18. These arms areI preferably of sufficient springiness to normally contract or converge su'liiciently so that the space between them is slightly less than*the'longitudinal-or vertical distance from the bottoms 52 Vof the cells 50 to the upper ends of the central contact posts 53.

The outer ends ofthe lower contact 56 are preferably turned up at to make firm mechanical and electrical contact with the bottoms^52 ofthe respective cells, and the outer endsof the upper Contact 55 are preferably inclined outvardly and upwardly at 67, so that by placing the bottom 52 of the cell on the upstanding outer end of the lower contact 56 and bringing the post 53 into co-operati'on with the inclined outer end 67 of the upper contact 55, the cell 50 may be conveniently slipped or` sprung betweeni the contacts 55 and 56,r which spring apart by the insertion of the cell andv are t'ensioned by the spreading thereof to hold the cell mecl'ianically betweeny the' contacts and iirmly against displacement, and the contacts in firm; electrical contact with tbe terminals 52' and 53 of the cell, therebyy connectiiig it electrically and mechanically between the contacts 55 and 56. ExtendingA longitudinally along the partition 18 and suitably secured thereto is a strip 70 which co-operates with the backs of the cells 50 to prevent interference of the screws 60 for the lower contacts 56 with the cells and to hold the cells in their proper vertical position upon-one side of the partition 18.

To` replace the cells 50,the frame and the panel' unit is simply lifted from the case and' the cells 50 are then simply slipped froml position between the out-standing arms of the contacts 55 and 56 and other cells may be slipped' into position between the contacts 55'aiid 56 by the ordinary user, without diliculty and without loosening binding post screws or disturbing the wiring or connections. The contacts 55 and 56 performthe dual function of supporting the vcells 50 and connecting them electrically into' the desired circuit and the necessity of returning the device to the factory for replacement isv eliminated.

Nuts 72 on the screws 16 may form binding posts and the cells 5() may be connected electrically in series and to the contact' points 7 3 of the switch 36 by conductors 74.

I claim: Y

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a case, a cover for said case, a vertical longitudinally extending partiof said compartments closely surrounding' said battery to limit displacement ot the same within the case, a plurality ot relatively small dry cell batteries veach of a length substantially equal to the diameter of said first battery, and a pair or' vertically aligned spring contacts mounted on the opposite side of said partition and having spring arms for supporting said relatively small batteries in said other compartment with their longitudinal dimensions arranged vertically and at right angles to the longitudinal dimension of said first battery.

2. In a device of the class descrited, the combination ot a case, a cover for said case, a vertical longitudinally extending partition dividin the interior of the case into a pair of longitudinal compartments, a relatively large dry cell battery arranged in one ot' said compartments with its longitudinal dimension disposed horizontally and extending longitudinally of the case, the walls oi' said compartments closely surrounding said battery to limit displacement of the same within the case, a plurality of relatively small dry cell batteries each of a length substantially equal to the diameter oi said first battery, and a pair of vertically aligned spring contacts mounted on the opposits side of said partition and having spring arms for supporting said relatively small batteries insaid other compartment with their longitudinal dimensions arranged vertically and at right angles to the longitudinal dimension of said lirst battery, said spring contacts having angular legs fastened to said vert-ical partition and ex-V tension arms and the mounting of said rela-` tively small batteries between the extension arms of said contacts providing quick detacha-ble circuit connections for removing.

`and inserting said relatively small batteries without destroying the Wiring connections.

3. In combination, a battery case having a side wall, an internal vertical partition extending longitudinally and parallel with said side wall, a plurality of spring contacts attached in vertically aligned pairs on the side of said partition adjacent said side wall, and a plurality of relatively small dry cell batteries supported verticallyV in a longitudinally aligned row and with their sides ,i

in engagement one between each pair of said contacts and held against displacement therefrom in the direction of the length of the ease by the engagement therebetween, said cells iitting relatively closely between said partition and said side wall and confined against transverse displacement from said contacts bysaid partition and side wall.

e. In combination, acase having a bottom wall, a vertical support overlying said bottom wall, a spring contact clip having an angular leg fastened to said support and extending upwardly and away from said base,

an outwardly extendingcontact arm, a second contact clip spaced above and aligned vertically with said iirst clip, said second clip having an angular leg fastened to thev support, an outwardlyv extending AContact arm, a relatively small drycell battery supported between and having quick detachable contact with the extending arms of said contact clips, and shoulder means extending from said support and cooperating with the side of the battery near its upper end and spacing the battery from the support to receive the angular leg of the lower clip between the battery and the support.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of December, 1926.

Y 'WILLIAM MEYER. 

